Fireproof partition.



W. ORR. PIREPBOOF PARTITION.-

APPLICATION FILED 00T.12,1907.

913,152. Patented F8523, 1909.

M fave/1222 Q UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM oRR, OF TRENTON, NEW

JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE NEW JERSEY WIRE CLOTH COMPANY, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

' FIREPRooF PARTITION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

Application filed October 12, 1907. Serial No. 897,052

specification and the accompanying draw- Ings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to an im roved metal frame or skeleton for fire proo partitions, the object of the invention being to avoid the distortion of the metal studs by ex ansion in case of fire.

n fire proof buildings the artitions are usually formed of a metal ramework of studdmg and metallic lathing, covered or filled with laster or other plastic material. These metalstuds have been attached to the floor and ceiling in such a manner that there is no rovision for expansion of the stud, with tlie result that, in case of excessive heat from fire, the studs become distorted by expansion and throw off the plastic coverin or the whole partition is distorted so that 1t has to be reconstructed. These studs also, are frequently provided with projections to which the lathmg is secured and which act 7 to displace the lathing and plastic material 80 in the expansion of the studs. The present invention avoids this difficulty by using studs of any desired cross-section, which are enough shorter than the space to be filled between the fioor and ceiling, or so secured in place as to allow for the expansion of the stud under the extreme heat to which it may be subjected. The studs will preferably be rolled to a uniform size throughout and so as to form a straight and comparatively smooth surface throughout their length, and themetallic lathing, when used, is so attached as to be free from the movement of the stud in expanding, so that the studs may expand independently of the plastic material and lathing.

The invention is. generally applicable in fire roof building construction, and may be eml iodied inwidely different forms, depending somewhat upon the character of the floor sdiandij ceiling constructions with which it'is For purpose of illustration, the invention 1S lF0Wn1n the accompanying drawing as a plied in-connection with two diflerent formsof ceiling construction, and these embodiments of the invention now be de-,

scribed in detail, and the features forming the lnventlon specifically pointed out in the c alms.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a vertical section transversely to the partition, show ing a completed partition embodying the mventionas applied in connection with ceiling bars and a lathing and plaster ceiling. Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section of the partition studs and their supports of Fig. 1.

ig. 3 is a plan view of the ceiling stud plates and studs shownin Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the floor stud plate of Figs. 1 and 2.with the studs in section. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a modified form of ceiling attachment for the stud. Fi 6 is a plan viewof the ceiling stud plate of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the invention applied with studs connected to the ceiling beams. Fig. 8 is a'view similar to Fig. 2, showing a stud made in two parts with overlap ing free ends for expansion movement. ig. 9 is a horizontal section of the same on the line 9 of Fig. 8.

Referring now especially to Figs. 1 to 4, A is the fire roof floor of concrete orsimilar material and B a similar floor of the next story, which floor B carries the ceiling formed by the ceiling bars a embedded in the floor. and sup orting the ceiling lathin b and plaster a. he usual floor of joists an boards d is shown on the concrete floor A.

The partition, in the form shown, consists of the metal studs e, to which is laced on one or both sides by wires 1 the metallic lathing f, to which is applied the plaster 'g to complete the partition, the partition shown bemg of that classknown as solid partitions with nocentral air space.

The construction thus far described is common, the studs e being secured in place in previous constructions so that no expan sion is permitted, being abutteddirectly against the floor and ceiling, or otherwise having a fixed length.

Referring now to the support of the studs e in accordance with'the present invention, provision for expansion is made at the ceiling end of the studs, the studs being held in place on the floor A, either by nailing them to the floor as usual, or as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, by inserting them in openings 2 formed in corrugations or raised portions 3 of a floor strip 10, this being a convenient and l portions 4. of ceiling rapid means for quickl placing .and proper y positioning the stu the floor strips 10 bemgnalled to the floor A, as shown, or otherwise secured thereto. At the ceiling end the studs extend through openin in downwardly extending corrugations or hent are shown as secure by wires 5 to the ceiling bars a and lathing I). These downwardly extending corrugations or portions of theplates 11 are of sufiicient deplth to allow for the possible expansion of t e studs 6 in case of fire.

In solid artitions, it is im ortant that the space a ove the studs 0 s ould not be filled b v the plaster or other plastic material of t e partition, and, in the construction shown, this is prevented by forming on the downwardly extending ortions 4 of the plates 11, wings 6, whic are bent around the studs 6 so as to form a sleeve inclosing the upper ends of the studs e, so as to leave open space for expansion.

After thestuds are assembled with the plates 10, 11, as shown in Fig. 2, the lathing f is applied and the Fpartition finished with laster, as shown in ig 1 In Fig. 5' there is shown a construction in which a ceiling plate 12, which may be securedto the ceiling infany suitable manner, being shown as secured. tothe ceiling lathing b by wire ties 5, carries a downwardly ex tending sleeve 7 which may be formed in any suitable manner, as by cutting and bending a piece of sheet metal to proper form, which sleeve 7 receives the upper end of the stud e, thus allowing for expansion, as in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

In Fig. 7 there is shown a construction for a partition extending in line with a ceiling beam, in which the stud is secured to the floor by nailin as usual, but at the upper end is held in p ace by a sleeve8 on a sheet metal clip 13, which is clamped on the bottom flange of the beam 0, the sleeve 8 extending below theconcrete B, in which the clip is em- I bedded, so as.to provide space within the sleeve below the concrete for the expansion ofthestude.

- Other'constructions embodyin the invention may readily bedesigned by/t 'ose skilled in the art, and the construction will be varied according to circumstances. In many cases suspended ceilin s are used withan air space between the -ce ing and concrete or other floor above, which air s ace may be suflicient 1n the .splace between the ceiling and t is not essential that the studsshall be in a .single piece, although this isfor the expansion of t e stud, as shown, for instance, in my Letters Patent No. 671,679. In such cases, the partition studs ma simply run through the. metal lathing or at stud plates secured thereto, the studs expanding floor above.

preferable, or that the. provision for ex stud plates 11, which in place by lacing them emma an'sion shall be made next the ceiling or 001'. The studs may be made in two parts, one attached to the floor and the other tothe ceiling, and having their adjacent ends inclosed by a sleeve with space between the ends for expansion, or with overla ping ends by a sleeve or slotted attachment, or other means permitting freedom of movement. Such a construction is shown in Figs. 8 and 9 in which the stud e is made in two parts extending respectively from the floor and ceiling, and having overlapping ends inclosed by a sleeve 9 which may be secured to one part of the stud, as shown, and overlap the other part. In solid partitions the sleeve is preferably made of such length, as shown, as to extend beyond the ends of the studs suificientl to form an expansion space which not be filled by the plastic material of the partition. The stud e in this construction is shown as formed of ribbed and grooved parts to strengthen the stud edgewise, but it Willbe understood that this is not essential to the present invention and that these studs may be of any other suitable form. a 7

Whatis claimed is:-

1. A metal partition frame havin vertical metal studs free to expand vertica ly under excessive heating in case of fire whereby distortion of the studs or injury to the partition is prevented.

2. A metal artition frame having vertical metal studs aving free ends so that the studs may expand vertically under excessive heating in case of fire and having their free ends inclosed by sleeves to prevent the plastic material filling the expanslon space.

3. A'metal partition frame havingvertical metal studs for-med in a single ieCeextending from floor to ceiling and having their upper ends held in place by means leaving t e ends free to permit the expansion of the studs under excessive heating in case of fire.

4. A metal partition frame having vertical metal studs formed in a single iece extending from fioor to ceiling and free to move on each other and he d in place 1 aving their upper ends held in downwardly extending portions of ceiling stud plates providing space and leaving the ends free for the expansion of the studs under excessive heating in case of fire.

5. The combination with a floor and ceil- 1 ing, of metal studse extending from floor to -ce1ling, ceiling stud plates 11 secured to the ceiling and having downwardly extending portions 4 for holding the u per ends-of the studs e'in place and leaving the ends free and providing space for the expansion of the studs under-excessive heating in case of fire.

4 6. The combination with a floor and ceiling, of metal studs e' extending from floor to ceiling, ceiling stud plates 11 secured to the ceiling and havingdownwardly extending portions 4 for holding the upper ends of the In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set studs 6 in place and providing space for the my hand, in the presence of two subscribing expansion of the studs under excessive heat- Witnesses.

ing in case of fire and the portions 4 being WILLIAM ORR. 5 formed to provide sleeves inclosin the studs Witnesses:

for preventing the plastic materififilling the E. W. ARNOLD,

expansion space. R. FELTY. 

